5G UE System Information Indexing to Avoid SI Reacquisition

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Solution Overview

Problem

The provision and acquisition of system information in 5G NR systems is not yet clearly defined, particularly in terms of minimizing reacquisition of system information by user equipment (UE) and optimizing the delivery of additional system information, which can lead to increased power consumption and signaling overhead.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of a system information index, comprising a value tag and an area pointer, is used to determine the validity of additional system information messages, allowing UEs to avoid reacquiring previously stored information that is still applicable, thereby reducing power consumption and signaling overhead.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If UEs continuously acquire system information from base stations, then system information freshness is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem information freshnessVSAvoidUE power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The base station performs preliminary actions by generating and storing system information indexes (value tags and area pointers) before UE requests. When UE needs system information, the base station can quickly determine whether to send full information or indicate that stored information is still valid, avoiding unnecessary transmissions and reducing UE power consumption while maintaining information freshness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If UEs reacquire system information frequently, then system information accuracy is improved, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem information accuracyVSAvoidair interface signaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts only the essential validation elements (value tag and area pointer) from the complete system information. These compact indexes are transmitted instead of full system information messages when information hasn't changed, significantly reducing signaling overhead while ensuring UEs receive accurate information when needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter representation from complete system information messages to compact validation parameters (value tags and area pointers). This parameter transformation allows the base station to indicate information validity with minimal signaling, reducing overhead while maintaining accuracy through the validation mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of information

If the system transmits complete system information messages, then information completeness is improved, but transmission efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem information completenessVSAvoidtransmission efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments system information transmission into two parts: (1) initial complete system information transmission, and (2) subsequent compact validation index transmission. This segmentation allows complete information to be delivered when needed while using efficient compact representations for updates, improving overall transmission efficiency without sacrificing completeness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4513970B1User equipment and base station participating in a system information acquisition procedure
Publication Date: 2026.04.15 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORP OF AMERICA
  • EP4513970B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4513970B1 patent drawingFigure 3~6
  • EP4513970B1 patent drawingFigure 7

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a user equipment comprising a receiver receiving a minimum-system-information message from a first radio base station. System information for the first radio cell that can be acquired by the UE is carried within the minimum-SI message and one or more additional-SI messages. The minimum-SI message includes system information for accessing the first radio cell and at least one system information index, each of which is associated with one of the additional-SI messages. The SI message index comprises a value tag and an area pointer, the latter pointing to one area already defined. Processing circuitry determines whether the UE had already acquired before the additional-SI message associated with the same value tag and the same area. If the determination is positive, the processing circuitry determines that system information included in said additional-SI message acquired before is applicable to the first radio cell.